Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-12-15

ot 01cn representatives CutIt6Q WIFI the re-
sponsibilftles Of legislative relief, the gravity
OF our financial situation. The failure of con-
gress heretofore to provide against the dan
gers which IL was quite evident the very ma
ture OF the difficulty must necessarily pro-
duce, causHd q condition OF financial distress
and apprehension since your last adjourn
ment which taxed to the utmost all the au-
tnority and expedients within executive con-
troll; and these appear now ID be exhausted
IL disaster results from the continued mac
ton OF congress, the responsibility must rest
where it belongs Though the situation thus
far considered Is fraught with danger which
should be fully realized, and though it pre-
SCENTS Gestures of wrong TO the people as well
as
PERIL TO THE COUNTRY,
II Is but a result growing out OF q per-
fectly palpable and apparent cause. con-
stantiy reproducing the same alarming cir
cumstances--a congested national treasury
ande depleted monetary condition in the
business OF the country. 1t need hardly be
stated that while the present situation de-
mands a remedy, we can only be saved from
a like predicament in the futsre by the re-
moval OF It's cause Our scheme of taxation,
by means of which this needless surplus is
taken from the people and put into the pub
lie treasury, consists of q tariff or duty levied
upon importations from abroad and internal
revenue taxes levied upon the consumption
OF tobacco and spirituous and malt liquors
~ AteAS 10 1OGSC4C1 NkAAt hOnG VI tuC AlAtk
Subjected 20 internal revenue taxation are,
strictly speaking. necessary. There appears
to be no just complaint of this taxation by
the of these articles, and there
seems TO be nothing so well able to bear the
burden without hardship TO any portion OF
the people. But our present tariff laws, the
vicious, inequitable, and illogical source of
unnecessary taxation, ought TO be at once
revised and amended These laws, as their
primary aad plain effect, raise the price 10
consumers of all articles imported and sub
lect to duty, by precisely the sum paid for
such duties Thus the amount of the duty
measures the tax paid by those who purchase
Tor use these imported articles Many of
these things, however, arera!sed or manu-
factured in our country, and the duties now
levied upon foreign goods and products are
called production 10 these nome mannfact-
ures. because they render lie possible for
those of our people who are manufacturer
10 make these taxed articles and sell them
for n price equal to that demanded for the
imported goods that have paid customs duty.
So il happens that while comparatively a few
use the imported articles, millions of our
people. who never use and never saw any of
the imported products. purchase and use
things of the same Kind made in this countrr
and pay therefor nearly or quite the same
charged price which the duty adds to the
imported articles Those who buy imports
pay the duty charged thereon into the pub
lie treasury, but the great majority of our
citizens who buy domestic articles of the
same ciess pay a sun at least approximately
equal to this duty to the home manufact-
urer This reference co the operation Of our
tariff laws is not made by way of instruc-
ton, hut IN order h a we may be constantly
reminded of the manner in which they
IMPOSE A BuRDEN
upon those who consume domestic products
as well as those who consume imported
articles, and thus create a tax upon all our
people Ii is not proposed TO entirely re-
heve the country of this taxation. It must
be extensively continued as the source of
the governments income; and in a readiust-
ment OF our tariff the interests OF American
labor engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as well as the preseryE-
ton OF our manufacturer, 1t may be called
protection, or by any other name, but relief
from the hardships and dangers of our nres-
ent tariff laws should be devised with espe-
cial precaution against imperiling the exist
ence of our manufacturing interests But
this existeEce should not mean a condition
which, without regard to the public welfare
or n national extgency. must always insure
the realization of immense profits instead OF
moderately profitable returns IS the vol
ume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those
who desire a continuation of the advantages
which they conceive the present system OF
tariff taxation directly affords them So
srubbcrnly have all efforts 10 reform the
present condition been resiEted by those of
our fellow citizens thus engaged, hat they
can hardly complain of the suspicion. enter
tanned 10 a certain extent, that there exists
an organized combination all along the
line to maintain their advantage. We are in
the midst of centennial celebrations. and
with becoming pride We rejoice in American
skill and Ingenuity. in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful
natural advantages and resources developed
hv n ,.eOtur-ss uatinu.i growth 1er when
an attempt Is made to Justify a scheme
which permits a tax to be laid upon every
consumer in the land for the benefit of our
manufacturers. quite beyond a reasonable
demand for governmental regard, II suits
the purpose OF advocacy to call our manu-
features infant industries, still needing the
highest and greatest de2ree of favor and
fostering care that can be wrung from
federal legislation II is also said that the
increase in the price of domestic manufact-
esSary in order that higher wages may be
paid 10 our workingmen employed in manu-
factories, than are paid for what Is called
the paper labor of Europe All viii ~
knowledge theforco OF an argument which
involves the welfare and liberal compensa-
ton of our laboring people Our labor is
honorable in the eyes of every American
citizen As 1t lays the foundation OF our
development and progress, it Is entitled,
without affectation or hypocrisy, to the
utmes. regard The standard of our labor
ers life should not be measured by that of
any other country less favored. and
they are entitled to their full share
of all our advantages By the last
census it is made to appear that of the
lT.3l2.O9 of our population engaged in all
KINDS of industries, 7.6T0.493 are employed
in agriculture. 4.0T4.23s in professional
and personal service t2.9ff.S76 Of whom
are domestic servants and laoorersl. while
1.s10,256 are employed IN trade and trans
portatson, and 1887 liz are classed as en-
ployed in manufacturing and mining
II sUMBER roc HIGH
For present purposes. however. the last
number given should be considerably re-
duced. Without attempting 10 snumerate
all, IL will be conceded that there should be
deducted from these which it includes $780,
143 carpenters and ioiners, 2S5,4o1 millI-
ners, dressmakers aud seamstresses. 172,T26
blacksmiths. 1873, 756 tailors and taiioresses.
102.473 masons, 76, 241 butchers. 81 800
bakers, % ,0s3 plasterers and 4 1881 engaged
in manufacturing agricultural implements.
amounting in the aggregate to 1.214.O23
leaving 2,623.0 S persons employed in
such manufacturing industries as are
claimed TO be benefited by a high tariff.
To these the appeal is made to save their
employment and maintain their Q By
resisting a change. There should be no dis
position to answer such suggestions by the
allegation that they are in a minority among
those who labor, and therefore should fore
go an advantage. in the interest of low
prices for the majority; their compensation,
as may be arected by the operation of tariff
laws, shouid &C all times he kept scrupul-
ously In view: and yet. With slight refiec-
ton they will not overlook the fact that they
are consumers with the rest; that they, toe,
have their own wants anG those of tier
families TO supply from their earnings, and
that the price of the necessaries OF life, as
well as the amount of their wages, will regu-
late the measure of their welfare and COM
fort But the reduction of taxation de
manded should be so measured as not to
necessitate or justify either the loss of en-
| ployment by the workingman nor the lessen
ingof his wages: and the profits still re-
naming TO the manufacturer, after a neces-
sary reimbursement. should furnish no excuse
for the sacrifice of the interests of his en-
pioyes, either in their opportunity to work
or in the diminution of their compensation
Nor can the worker in manufactures fail 10
understand that while a high tariff is claimed
to be necessary TO allow the payment
of remuneratiye wages, it certainly results
in a very large increase in the price ofnearly
countless forms. he needs for the use of him
self and his family. He receives at the desk
Of his employer his wages, and perhaps be-
fore be reaches his home is obliged. in q
purchase for family use of an article which
embraces his own labor. to return in the
payment of the increase in price which the
tariff permits the hard-earned compensation
Of many days Of toll
WOOL
The Removal or Reduction of Duties There
on Suggested, Supported by Exhaustive